Short Summary

President Suharto of Indonesia on Monday (17 April) launched a bitter attack on his political opponents and justified the recent military crackdown on anti-government activities during last month's national congress, which elected him unopposed to another term of office.

Description

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SV Troops parading in armoured cars and tanks (4 SHOTS)
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SV Airfighters and bombers in flypast (2 SHOTS)
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SV Troops parading with views of military band and President Suharto of Indonesia taking salute (5 SHOTS)
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SV Military spectators looking on
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SV President Suharto hands over armed forces flag to General Yusuf new commander of Indonesian Armed Forces and then walks away
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SV President Suharto on platform ready to give speech
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SV Views of troops and tanks in standing formation (3 SHOTS)
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SV Military spectators
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SV Troops in parade
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SV Suharto takes salute
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Initials

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Background: President Suharto of Indonesia on Monday (17 April) launched a bitter attack on his political opponents and justified the recent military crackdown on anti-government activities during last month's national congress, which elected him unopposed to another term of office.

He said without such action, unimaginable chaos would have consumed the nation, democracy would have been smothered, and the constitution cast aside. President Suharto made his remarks at a military ceremony in Jakarta where he installed Defence Minister, General Mohammed Yusuf as the new Commander of Indonesia's armed forces.

SYNOPSIS: The ceremony, near the famous Senayan Sports Centre, was highlighted by a huge military parade, with some 12,000 troops representing all branches of the armed forces taking part.

Formations of fighter bombers and other military aircraft roared above, while tanks and armoured cars joined the parade on the ground.

Foreign observers in Jakarta said it was the biggest display of military strength since President Suharto's "new order" regime came to power in the aftermath of the 1965 abortive communist coup. (SEQ 1-4)
General Yusuf, who was handed the flag of the armed forces by President Suharto, was appointed Defence Minister and Commander last month in succession to General Maraden Panggabean who became coordinating minister for general politics and security.(SEQ 5)
President Suharto later told the soldiers that the task and responsibilities of the armed forces in ensuring the success of national development efforts had become more challenging.

He added, that it was not difficult to imagine the calamity and catastrophe the people would have suffered if the military were late or hesitant in taking the preventative measure they did over the past several months against anti-government elements. (SEQ 6-10)

President Suharto of Indonesia was greeted by West Irian tribesmen on Saturday (3 March) when he arrived to open the Freeport Indonesia Copper Mine in the Jayawijaya Mountains, 2,500 miles (4,000KM) east of Djakarta.